A chance to gain key skills and experience
Amanda Stainton is HR director for Portakabin, which is based in York. The family-owned business has 1,750 employees and is planning to add 30 new recruits from the Kickstart Scheme.
“We’ve been very fortunate in that we haven’t had to furlough any of our employees, and we felt the Kickstart Scheme was a great opportunity to build on what we already do with apprenticeships,” says Amanda. “We’ve had over 40 apprentices over the past eight years, and Kickstart is another opportunity for young people to get some real experience and improve their skills.
“I have children of a similar age, and I understand the longer you spend out of work after coming out of education, the harder it is to get into it. Opportunities in areas like retail and hospitality have disappeared due to the pandemic, and we don’t want young people to get left behind.”
Portakabin will be able to offer a wide range of experience for its young recruits, as Amanda explains: “Because we’re a manufacturing organisation, we’ve got lots of opportunities here – within manufacturing, but also in marketing, IT, HR and in our commercial teams. We’ll be running programmes in terms of CV writing and interview techniques too, which will provide that extra set of skills and experiences that will hopefully mean they can be successful outside Portakabin, or perhaps join us as apprentices, if we have those opportunities available.”
A SIXTH form student is celebrating her promotion to sergeant in the Royal Air Force Air Cadets.
Isabel Marshall, a lower sixth form student at Stockport Grammar School in Great Moor, is part of the 318 (Sale) Squadron and achieved the promotion last week.
Her involvement in the squadron contributed to the volunteering section of her Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
To achieve the award students complete volunteering, expedition, and skill sections and the school offers the chance to obtain the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards.
318 (Sale) Squadron is part of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, a youth organisation which aims to encourage a practical interest in aviation, to develop qualities of leadership and good citizenship and to foster a spirit of adventure.
Isabel has been attending virtual parades every Tuesday and will now organise activities for the other cadets following her successful online interview and promotion.
The school’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award coordinator, Miss Laura Turner, said: “I’m incredibly proud that Isabel has achieved this promotion.
“This year, pupils have continued working towards the awards by volunteering in the local community including making phone calls to vulnerable people, keeping active and learning new skills such as first aid.
“This has been keeping pupils healthy, learning lifelong skills, helping to maintain and boost resilience and mental health.”
FIREFIGHTERS have been battling a large blaze at a builders merchants.
Six crews from Greater Manchester and Cheshire were at the scene at Huws Gray on Moor Lane in Woodford.
Surrounding roads were closed and nearby residents advised to keep windows and doors closed.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “Firefighters were called to reports of a commercial property on fire in Moorland in Woodford, at approximately 6.15pm, on Monday.”
Firefighters from
Greater Manchester and Cheshire quickly arrived at the scene.
Upon arrival fire crews found the building was well alight across two stories.
Speaking on Monday, Incident commander Pat Johnson said: “Firefighters have worked hard at the scene. The fire is now being brought under control using two aerial appliances and hand held jets. The public are advised to avoid the area for now and keep doors and windows shut. It is anticipated the fire service may be in attendance for a number of hours through the night.”